Formula One: Fisichella Poised to Sue Jordan

Giancarlo Fisichella, currently team-mate to Fernando Alonso in the dominant Renault team, is thought to be about to sue Eddie Jordan for money allegedly still owed to him from the 2003 season, during which he won the Brazilian grand prix in one of the Irishman’s distinctive yellow cars. It is believed the sum outstanding is about £325,000 and although Enrico Zanarini, Fisichella’s manager, would not deny yesterday that legal action was pending, he would not be drawn into making any detailed comment on the issue. "I cannot deny it," he said, "but this is a private matter and I don’t want to make any comment on it."

On being contacted at his London office yesterday Jordan sounded surprised. "I don’t want to comment until I know a little more about it," he said. "But are you saying he’s going to sue me or Jordan Grand Prix? I haven’t got any more to say about this."

Jordan sold his struggling formula one team to the Russian-born Canadian businessman Alex Shnaider for a reputed £21.7m just over a year ago. In turn, Shnaider is currently considering an offer of more than twice that amount from the Dutch Lost Boys internet company.

Fisichella originally drove a Jordan-Peugeot in 1997 before having four years at Benetton and then returning to Jordan in 2002. The following year he pipped Kimi Raikkonen’s McLaren to victory in the Brazilian race thanks to some clever pit strategy by the Jordan team and the fact that the race ended prematurely after a multiple accident on the startline straight.

Fisichella has since won the 2005
Australian and 2006 Malaysian grands prix as a member of the Renault team and is currently holding fourth place in the drivers’ world championship on 32 points.